The Summer of Yes
Courtney Walsh
Publication Date: July 2, 2024
5/5 stars

I loved this book! Kelsey works as a junior editor with dreams of becoming a writer. One day while picking up coffee, she gets hit by a car which causes her to question the way she is living her life. She ends up sharing a hospital room with the famous Georgina Tate, who is dealing with her own health problems and regrets. Kelsey convinces Georgina go on an adventure called “The Summer of Yes” by saying yes to everything they would normally say no to.

This is a heartwarming story encourages you to live life to the fullest and embrace that all life has to offer. Thank you Courtney Walsh, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgally for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Courtney Walsh, and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

THIS BOOK IS SO AMAZING AND SWEET! I loved all of the characters and their journeys in life and how one person had such a profound impact on all of them. Saying yes to things you'd often say no too was also a powerful component to this story of self discovery, love, and forgiveness. Such a sweet read! I cant wait to read more by this author.

what a beautiful cover and story. i chose this because i love this author’s writing style and the cover was so cute. i liked that this was a story about self discovery and highlighted a blossoming friendship between the two. highly recommend.

The Summer of Yes is less about never saying no, but instead saying yes to things that may scare us but are what we truly desire.

Kelsey says no to everything. Happy hour after work, her best friend's birthday party, going home to visit her family. She never realized how long she put work before everything else until she wakes up in a hospital bed after being hit by a car. She has no one to call and neither does her older roommate the uber successful CEO and billionaire Georgina Tate. As she lays in recovery, she wonders if it'll all be worth it once she's successful, so she asks Georgina.

Georgina is less than happy to have a roommate. She'd prefer to live her last dying days without an annoyingly intrusive new friend. She tells Kelsey that while worthwhile its not without regrets.

And thus begins the summer of yes with two eerily similar opposites learning to give up control and face their fears that stopped them from so much before.

I read this book thinking it was gonna be a romance and while that's definitely a part of it, I think this book focuses more on the love we deserve to give ourselves and the people who make up our worlds.

Honestly, Georgina is a little rough around the edges and sometimes hard to like as the reader, but her perspective feels real. She wasn't painted better than how she acted, but the people around her recognized that sometimes dogs bite when they're scared.

Kelsey lacks confidence in herself and her dreams. But she’s brave to recognize that her life isn’t the one she’s always wanted and she needs to change in order to get there.

We all need disruptors in our lives, maybe not quite a hit and run but something that makes us reflect and deviate from the norm.

Maybe this book will help you deviate from yours.

Rating: 4/5
Spice Level: 1/5


Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Nelson Mason for providing me this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Kelsey is a 32 publishing assistant who, like many NYers, has spent her adult life in the rat race that is seeking career success. One day she wakes up in the hospital finding out she was hit by a car, while on the sidewalk! Her hospital roommate turns out to be the well accomplished Georgia Tate and she-boss in every sense of the word. This near death experience and interactions with Georgina force Kelsey to confront her life with a new perspective and she embarks on a summer of saying yes.

This was a cute book although it felt like a concept that I’ve read or seen in a movie before. I like the strong and assertive female characters and I always enjoy a 2 perspective novel. As I feel with most “romance” books, this felt forced and fake. Yes I’m probably a cynic in many ways (like Kelsey, I’m a jaded NYer) but it all seems so implausible. The messaging about taking stock of your life and your priorities resonates with me but the package of the story overall didn’t quite hit the mark.

Well geez! This was such an easy, fun read. I loved this!
For being a predictable book, I could never knock stars off because this was so enjoyable.
Loved that ‘say yes!’ attitude, nothing fills my cup more than this.

Georgina was so blunt and rude in a way that was attractive - loved her!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the chance to read this ARC!

I'm a mood reader and I'm a fast reader. And when I come across a book like this, it makes me want to slow down and enjoy the unfolding story, and spend a little extra time in this capsule world. The Summer of Yes is a great concept for us all: what if you said yes to the things you normally say no to? What if you let go of your regrets and fear and open yourself up to living and to hope? I loved the dynamic between Kelsey and Georgina, and Georgina's voice in this story sounded very much like Shirley McClain in my head. Georgina is a cautionary tale for Kelsey, as they both have lived their lives denying themselves because they thought that was what was needed in order to follow their ambitions. But as Kelsey finds out, that path leads to loneliness. Does Kelsey really want to be like Georgina, or can she do something about her choices before it's too late? This book started out a teensy bit slow for me as we're introduced to Kelsey, but it picked up quickly and I'm glad I stayed with it! Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh is the perfect book for everyone who has ever wondered how one decision has changed the course of their life. While running errands for her boss, Kelsey is in a car accident that lands her in the hospital. Her roommate ends up being her polar opposite, an older business woman with regrets of her own. Together, they embark on a mission to rewrite their stories and rewrite their regrets. A feel good story of an unusual friendship that changed both of their lives.

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh is a beautiful book written about friendship. Seeing Kelsey and Georgina's unlikely friendship develop made me smile and feel warm and fuzzy inside. We see themes of self discovery and books with this theme always make me reflect on my own life afterwards. I also loved how sweet the romance in this book was.

This is perfect for a quick summer read and I'll probably suggest it to my book club after it releases! I loved the adventures they went on and I'm always a sucker for a happy ending!

Thank you to Netgalley, Courtney Walsh, and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for honest review.

I loved this book so much. I wanted to know how it all played out but also never wanted it to end. It made me feel all of the emotions and shed some tears. It was SO good!! I’d give it more than 5 stars if I could!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Courtney Walsh’s books are like a warm hug. This was no exception. It is the story of two woman who form an unlikely friendship and end up changing both of their lives in the process.

I found myself routing for them both so much. I want to start my own Summer of Yes.

4.5 stars

This is a great book about friendship. The romance is good too. It's light but also makes you think about your life and how you're living it -- with joy or with fear. I will reread this book again in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Fiction through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Thomas Nelson Fiction.

First I would like to take Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC.

I love Courtney Walsh. She always writes really great rom-coms that just make me smile when I read them. The Summer of Yes was no different.

I thought Kelsey and Georgina were fantastic characters and Hayden might be my new favorite book boyfriend. The road trip in this story was great, the town of Driftwood sounded perfect and I loved the relationship between all the main characters. Even Georgina’s assistant was a great part of this story.

The themes of regret, forgiveness, finding yourself and friendship made me love this story. I did find Georgina a little frustrating at times but overall I really enjoyed this book.

A solid 4.25/5 stars for me.

This is a great self discovery friendship novel. Perfect for a summer read and for book clubs. The characters are delightful. It is a book that immerses you and makes you think of the relationships in your life. So fun.

I absolutely loved this book overall, empowering to discover and truly give yourself the energy you usually spend on others, beautiful read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

this book took me on a emotional roll coaster ride.

this isn’t a typical love story. it’s also about friends and family and everything that comes with it. this made me realize that you’ll actually miss out a lot when you’re afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

I have never given women’s fiction a chance or even a second thought, because those types of stories don’t interest me in any sort of way. But this cover was so beautiful, and I was like, how bad can it be? And oh my goodness, if you can’t already tell by my 5 star rating, I absolutely loved every minute of this book!

The writing, the plot, the characters, the relationships, the romance. Perfection. It is filled with hope, love, forgiveness, saying yes, and second chances. The whole ‘Summer of Yes’ was so eye opening and made me contemplate my own life. Am I doing what brings me joy? Are my relationships with family and friends strong? Am I getting out of my comfort zone, saying yes to things I normally wouldn’t?

I didn’t think we would be getting tons of romance, and I mean that isn’t the main focus, but the romance that we did get was beautiful and tender, and I ate up every moment that Hayden and Kelsey were together. I even enjoyed Georgina’s side of the story, which I thought I wouldn’t. She was a cranky old woman, but when you get her POV, it gives you an empathetic understanding. And her silver fox? Yes please.

Putting the romance aside, the relationship between each character was just ugh, so sweet. Especially Georgina and Kelsey’s relationship. I felt a deep connection to both women. And I truly think all women can relate to them, in their own way.

I just have to say, I never get emotional when I read. Ever. And I cried 3 times! I literally felt every emotion possible throughout this book. It was such a powerful, beautiful story that I am so glad I took a chance on, and I think y’all should too.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh is the perfect beach read. It's enjoyable and didn't make me think too hard about why the characters did what they did, I just enjoyed reading about them and their adventures along the way.

Kelsey survives what could have been a fatal accident and realizes that she needs to start living her life, not being afraid and saying no to everything. She sets out on and adventure and takes her hospital roommate, grumpy Georgina, along for the ride.

While there is a romance in this book (no spoilers) the main plot is about finding your way back to friends and family and not being afraid to have new experiences and just enjoying life.

This book came along just when I need it and I think I'm going to have a summer of yes for myself!

Thankyou to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

What a beautiful cover!

I picked this one up because of the cover alone, but very glad I did.

This was a wonderful book about self-discovery and highlighted a beautiful friendship about a younger woman and an older woman, each with something to learn from one another.

The ending was a joy without being too sappy!!

Definitely think everyone should pick this up and it could easily be a really fun book club pick!

Thank you Net Galley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC of this Courtney Walsh book "The Summer of Yes". For me this book was a total "YES"! It was a heartwarming story of taking back one's life and making an unexpected friendship along the way. Kelsey Worthington's life is all work and no play. She has fallen into a pattern of saying "no" to anything remotely social or fun. Then a traumatic accident and the chance meeting of a grumpy elderly woman changes the trajectory of both their lives. Georgina Tate is a powerful head of her namesake cosmetic company with a secret of her own. She worked her way to the top in the business world, but made some life-altering sacrifices in the process. Together Kelsey & Georgina enter into a journey to put their lives back into perspective and reclaim the fun. They set off to experience a Summer of Yes together. I loved the main characters and their witty banter. Georgina is a hoot! There is a touch of sweet romance along the way too.
This book will make for the perfect summer beach read!